What You Need to Know About Libya

Last week, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), in conjunction with American Enterprise Institute’s (AEI) Critical Threats Project, introduced a new daily tracker of the latest developments in Libya. This timely product will offer continuous updates on operations, attacks, and statements from U.S. and Coalition forces, pro-Qaddafi forces, and opposition forces. ISW will also feature analysis, maps, and other resources on the unfolding conflict.

Today ISW published Senior Fellow LTG James Dubik's latest commentary on the situation in Libya titled "Choices and Consequences". Here he examines the next steps in U.S. and NATO intervention in Libya, and discusses the limited role airpower can play in this conflict.

"Relying on air power alone is unlikely to work. NATO needs to deploy combat air controllers and advisors or trainers to augment its air forces and begin contingency planning for a NATO-Arab peacekeeping mission."- LTG James Dubik, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Upcoming Events

Join us April 15, 2011 at the Reserve Officers Association for a discussion on Iraq titled Iraq's Fragile Transition.

This panel will examine key questions on the transition in Iraq including: Is a follow-on agreement necessary? Will the U.S. force withdrawal undermine Iraq’s security? Is Iraq’s fragile government prepared to take the lead? Will a transition to a U.S. State Department presence be sufficient to continue U.S.-led training and counterterrorism assistance for Iraq? And what are the broader military and strategic implications of this transition? 

To attend Iraq's Fragile Transition, RSVP via Eventbrite by April 13.

Friday, April 15, 2011
10:30 am–12:00 pm
Reserve Officers Association (ROA)
One Constitution Avenue, NE
4th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20002

Past Events

On March 16, ISW and the Reserve Officers Association hosted the panel discussion, ‘Afghanistan: Regional Stability, Global Security’ which focused on the future of Afghanistan and what to expect in 2011.

The event featured ISW President Dr. Kim Kagan, author and journalist Peter Bergen, Lieutenant Colonel Joel Rayburn, who recently returned from Afghanistan advising General Petraeus, and ISW Senior Fellow Lieutenant General (Ret.) James Dubik who served as moderator.

Speaking to a room of over 100 guests, the panelists debated the outlook of a stable Afghanistan and the prospects that the recent gains by US and Coalition forces can be maintained.

Click here to watch the video and read the transcript.

“The reasons why we’re in Afghanistan are clear and they remain clear: mainly, to ensure that Afghanistan no longer is, can become, will become again a safe haven for al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups that will use Afghanistan as a platform for reconsolidation, for regional instability and for international attack. That’s the mission; that’s the goal; that is the focus.” – Dr. Kimberly Kagan

For more on Afghanistan, be sure to watch ISW Research Analyst Jeffrey Dressler explain the current battlefield conditions on Fox News' DEFCON 3 with KT McFarland.